The Wyss Zurich Translational Center (Wyss Zurich) is a unique accelerator embedded within ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. It is dedicated to advancing innovations in the emerging fields of regenerative medicine, robotics, and medical devices/bionics technologies. We unite world-leading experts, pooling their knowledge and expertise, to form multidisciplinary teams that drive transformative research toward real-world impact.
Wyss Zurich was established to advance translational projects originating from ETH Zurich and/or the University of Zurich. We support initiatives focused on developing treatment protocols, clinical therapies, novel technologies, and intelligent systems within the emerging fields of regenerative medicine, robotics, and medical devices/bionics.
Projects that are accepted through our rigorous admission process receive dedicated guidance and oversight from Wyss Zurich. They benefit from the expertise of world-leading researchers from both ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich, dedicated technology platforms, entrepreneurial support as well as access to funding and infrastructure. By integrating knowledge across multiple disciplines and providing access to world-class resources, we transform cutting-edge science into tangible improvements in health and technology, while fostering entrepreneurial innovation.
Switzerland is a global leader in basic research, yet there is often a long latency period between scientific discovery and its widespread application. Many promising innovations fail to translate because industry/investors typically prefer to fund more mature technologies. As a result, early-stage developments frequently stall in what is often referred to as the “valley of death.”
Swiss entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. h.c. mult. Hansjörg Wyss is committed to addressing this valley of death. “Breakthrough discoveries in medical and technological fields have to be made available as soon as possible for the benefit of mankind,” he says. To achieve this vision, he initiated a collaboration between ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich, leveraging their strengths in robotics, life sciences, and medicine. This collaboration led to the launch of the Wyss Zurich Translational Center in December 2014, which officially began operations in March 2015.
«I want to help accelerate the translation process and build a bridge between basic research and application.»
Hansjörg Wyss
Hansjörg Wyss dedicates his charitable efforts to environmentalism, scientific research, and translational science. In Switzerland, he has donated more than half a billion Swiss Francs to establish and support leading institutions such as the Wyss Zurich Translational Center, the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering in Geneva, and the Wyss Academy for Nature in Bern. His extraordinary contributions make him the most generous private donor to Switzerland’s research and innovation landscape.
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